Founded in 1987 by Rev. Tony Ponticello and Rev. Larry Bedini (see photo at left), the Community Miracles Center (CMC) has been serving students of A Course In Miracles (ACIM) in San Francisco, California, the United States and now through the internet, the worldwide Miracles community.

The following is the CMC's statement of purpose:

The Community Miracles Center exists to provide supportive community relationships for A Course In Miracles (ACIM) students worldwide. It is the aim of CMC to enable the students of ACIM to recognize the holy nature of their relationships with one another, and to enable them to strengthen their practice of this spiritual healing discipline.

CMC teaches that the only authoritative voice for recognizing the true meaning of ACIM is each person's own connection to the Voice for God, the Holy Spirit, within their minds. CMC strives to make available to its members all sincere ACIM teachers and teachings which we perceive as aids to help the student find out the truth of ACIM for her or himself. Through learning from the insights of others and sharing our own growth, all of students of ACIM can establish a clearer connection to their own inner guide.

It is the CMC's goal to teach one how this Voice can the only voice to which one listens.

The CMC's Programs

Miracles Monthly

Since 1987 the Community Miracles Center (CMC) has been producing a monthly publication which is directly mailed to A Course In Miracles (ACIM) students all throughout the United States. This publication contains inspirational and healing articles and frequently includes

A Course In Miracles Bookstore

The CMC bookstore grows every year. It now contains almost 300 items designed for the serious and casual ACIM student. Because it is their mission to disseminate these works and because of volume purchasing power, they usually offer the lowest prices on ACIM items available anywhere. The items are all held in stock in San Francisco and can be purchased by phone, mail, and through their web book store.

ACIM Ezine (Electronic Magazine)

In 2005 the CMC launched a new publication distributed as a text only email. Like Miracles Monthly it contains: articles, book and product listings, event information and other news important to the greater Course community.

Sunday Service

Since the CMC was formed, a Sunday meeting has been held where San Francisco area students, and frequent visitors, can find a place where the metaphysical thoughts from A Course In Miracles are explored and practiced. There is a lecture, discussion, meditation, singing and, socializing. In San Francisco every Sunday Morning at 10:30 a.m.

A Course In Miracles Classes

The CMC offers weekly classes where the volumes of A Course In Miracles are thoroughly read and discussed. ACIM-1 studies the Text and lasts for a full year (52 weeks). Upon successful completion students are certified ACIM Practitioners.

The second year class, ACIM-2, studies the Workbook For Students along with the Manual For Teachers. It also

First Friday Healing Ritual

On the first Friday of every month a healing circle is formed. Utilizing a "talking stick" and "burning bowl", the ritual is directed towards personal and global healing needs. The ritual starts at 7:15 p.m. No admittance after 7:30 p.m.

A Course In Miracles Counseling

Rev. Larry Bedini and Rev. Tony Ponticello both offer their services as ACIM pastoral counselors. They have many years of counseling experience between them. They have a foundation in the ACIM 100% personal responsibility teaching. They do telephone and web cam counseling for those outside of the San Francisco area.

Fellowship Events

The CMC is an active fellowship and provides monthly social activities which include holiday banquets on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's eve. They also organize: museum trips, legitimate theater outings, bowling, pot-lucks, dinner dancing and many other things that focus on joining as the major goal.

What Is A Course In Miracles ?

ACIM is a profound metaphysical document, addressing concepts which transcend the physical realm. It deals extensively with how our minds are manifesting the physical reality we appear to live in, including our bodies, the earth and even space and time itself. It is also considered a course in spiritual psychotherapy and healing for individuals who are looking to heal themselves and the world that appears before them. These healings not only include those of bodies that appear ill, but also of minds which think they are frightened, alone, in danger or not at peace. Ultimately all the world is healed through the personal healing of mind provided through the Course. The Course contains three distinct "books." The first is the Text which lays out the theoretical foundation of the thought system. The Workbook For Students, the second book, contains 365 lessons to be done one per day throughout a year. The third book, the Manual For Teachers, is written in question and answer format. It answers some of the more likely questions students of the Course might ask and includes a section clarifying many of the terms used in the Course. "This course is a beginning, not an end." (Workbook, pg. 487)

What Does ACIM Say ?

"This course does not aim at teaching the meaning of love, for that is beyond what can be taught. It does aim, however, at removing the blocks to the awareness of love's presence, which is your natural inheritance. The opposite of love is fear, but what is all-encompassing can have no opposite. This course can therefore be summed up very simply in this way:

'Nothing real can be threatened.Nothing unreal exists.'

Herein lies the peace of God." (Text, pg. 1)

Statement Of Dedication

The following is from the CMC's informational brochure.

"Dedicated To Healing The World ..

.. through the healing of our own minds. Led by a spiritual Voice Who sees the world as a representation of our own thinking and as offering us continual opportunities to truly forgive and thus transform. Making the world into the close reflection of Heaven it was meant to be."

Contact Information

Community Miracles Center

CMC "Penant" Logo (left) / CMC "Heart" Logo (right)

See also

• A Course In Miracles
• Pathways of Light center
• ACIM church movement